By Sarah Whitman
These days, everything seems to be about going green. Everywhere I look there are people carrying reusable bags and talking about what not to buy to put in them. There are countless reasons to live green and to eat green.
Apparently, the way we’ve been living all these years is a ticket to certain death.
The whole thing can be a little stressful for the average person who is used to trusting that what’s for sale at the grocery store is good for people and the environment, or at the very least not terrible. Lately I’ve caught myself with a reusable bag in hand, asking questions like, “Should I buy organic?” “Should I eat meat?” “Will these donuts eventually kill me?” “Is white bread the enemy?”
I’ve come to the conclusion that the key to surviving the transition to living green is balance.
I now buy primarily organic. My favorite organic brand for frozen foods is Amy’s Organic, which offers everything from pizzas to rice bowls. I buy organic fruits. My husband and I are growing our own vegetables, which do taste way better than regular store bought. The lack of pesticides used buying organic or growing your own is also good for the environment.
The thing is, it can be expensive, so I mix it up and buy some non-organic. I figure, my dad’s grandfather lived well into his 80s and never even heard the word organic. He just didn’t eat a ton of garbage, like hot dogs and French fries.
Should I eat meat? Well, I tried going vegan 10 years ago and it resulted in malnutrition, so avoiding it entirely makes me nervous. I try and stick to chicken and fish, but then I heard how chickens are treated while kept in coops. So, I am trying to purchase free-range meats, though I recently read on a website that it doesn’t really mean anything when a package says free-range. It has to have a USDA organic seal. Seriously? I am doing the best I can.
Will these donuts eventually kill me? Is white bread the enemy? I don’t think a donut every now and again is the end of the world. I have splurge foods like soda and the occasional sweet I know contains processed ingredients. If this is wrong, I’m in trouble, because I don’t think I’ll go the rest of my life and never eat a cupcake.
For me, the key is not eating processed foods all the time. I eat whole grains as much as possible, which does make me feel better. They also taste great, but whole grain isn’t always an option when I’m on the go.
There are people out there capable of adapting fully to the green lifestyle without it causing a panic. I applaud those individuals because I think eventually we’ll all go in that direction. Me, I’ve decided I need to make a gradual transition.
I recycle most everything. I use the right light bulbs. I water my plants responsibly. Can’t I still hang onto a few bad habits? After all, my first word was Pepsi.
To help me with my transition, I’ve found a great website, GoingGreenTampa.Com. The website’s creator was nice enough to answer a few questions about what it means to go green.
Website offers helpful tips for go green
Land O’ Lakes resident Lisa Custer recently launched the website GoingGreenTampa.com, a one-stop information tool with connections to all that’s green in the Tampa Bay Area. Here’s what Lisa had to say about the green lifestyle.
Q: What inspired your interest in the green lifestyle?
A: I have always enjoyed living a simpler lifestyle, which to me is what a green lifestyle is. I think it goes back to my childhood of growing up in Land O’ Lakes. Living on a lake I was able to see and hear the wildlife everyday and appreciate our ecosystem for how great it is. That just makes you want to do your part to protect it so that your children can have the same experiences. What you do really does count. Whether it’s recycling, cutting down on your water usage, planting native plants or being mindful not to waste.
Q: Why do you think it is important to live green?
A: I think it is important because we do live in such a vulnerable state, which is even more evident with the oil explosion in the gulf. Our choices do have a ripple effect and I don’t think we should be so concerned with the, I want it now attitude, but instead think of will this effect more than just me?
Q: How can people eat green?
A: By choosing to buy from local farms, learning to grow your own and not over consume or be wasteful. Think of how much food gets thrown away. People just want to buy and buy, but they should stop and think about if it will actually get eaten.
We belong to Rabbits, etc. Farm in Masaryktown. They have a CSA (community supported agriculture) program and you pick up your food once a week. We pay $22 and get lots of fresh, local vegetables, free-range eggs, meat, strawberries and olives all grown with no pesticides. You can’t beat it. I only have to go to the grocery store for milk and bread basically. There are several CSA’s or food co-op’s all around Tampa.
Q: What services, eating establishments, etc. would you recommend?
The Refinery is a new restaurant I can’t wait to try. They buy as much local food as possible and tailor their menu every week around what is available. There are also chains like Chipotle that offer “food with integrity.” They seek out farmers who don’t use hormones and are offering a naturally-raised product.
Q: Does living green mean giving up everything we’re used to?
A: It doesn’t mean giving anything up, it just means being more mindful. You can still buy bottled water, just recycle the bottle. Better yet, buy a reusable bottle and save your self the money of bottled water. Just because we are used to being a throw-it-away society, doesn’t mean we should continue to be. It’s really only been the last couple generations who think that way. My grandparents were able to happily raise 6 kids because they reused things and didn’t over consume. What’s wrong with learning the value of something and respecting that? I firmly believe that is how we should raise our kids and live our lives.
